Fowler then found his Anfield future thrown into further doubt when he went out for a night on the town in the week of England's crucial World Cup match against Greece.

But Thompson, deputising during Houllier's recuperation from heart surgery, recalled Fowler to Liverpool's starting line-up and was rewarded with a superb hat-trick.

Fowler's celebrations, as a stinging last-minute volley ensured he took the match ball home, could hardly have been in starker contrast to Ade Akinbiyi's fortunes.

The £5m misfit striker claimed a hat-trick of his own, though his treble was made up of missed sitters.

Fowler, though, could do no wrong.

It was a splendid hat-trick but the frightening thing is that Robbie can be even better

Liverpool coach Phil Thompson

His first, inside the opening four minutes, quickly wiped the smile from Dave Bassett's face.

Leicester's newly-appointed manager was still milking the applause in his first home game as manager when a defensive mix-up gifted Liverpool their opener.

Robbie Savage and Ian Marshall got in a muddle to concede a corner from which goalkeeper Ian Walker superbly blocked John Arne Riise's shot, only to see Fowler sweep up.

Six minutes later, Leicester's miserable season took yet another downward lurch.

Phil Thompson barks his orders at Liverpool

Gary McAllister whipped a dangerous free kick to the near post and Leicester's defence stood and watched as defender Sami Hyypia stole forward to head home.

Shell-shocked Leicester, beaten 6-0 by Leeds in their last home game, managed a response of sorts as Ade Akinbiyi was given the chance of salvaging something from the wreckage in a one-on-one with Liverpool keeper Jerzy Dudek.

Instead, his woeful shot over the top of the crossbar only served to compound the misery.

The Filbert Street fans booed and threw their programmes at the hapless striker.

Whether Ade Akinbiyi is just having a bad time or does not have the quality, only time
will tell

Leicester boss Dave Bassett

Then, after another Akinbiyi half-chance had gone begging, Fowler's second goal put the game well out of the reach of even Bassett's Houdini reputation.

Two minutes before half-time, another Marshall slip allowed Danny Murphy to run clear down the left and roll a pass that was clinically turned home by the grateful Fowler.